License plate frame with removable elements

Abstract

A license plate frame that allows for removable coupling of elements to the license plate frame. The license plate frame may include four borders that each include an outer frame lip and an inner frame lip extending outwardly from a rear surface of the license plate frame. The inner frame lip may include a plurality of equally sized notches adjacent one another. A removable element that includes a pin and a channel is removably coupled to the license plate frame by placing the pin within one of the plurality of notches and placing a portion of the outer frame lip within the channel of the removable element. The removable element may be moved by lifting the pin out of the notch and sliding the outer frame lip through the channel of the removable element before inserting the pin into a different notch.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A license plate frame, comprising:
 four borders surrounding a license plate opening, the four borders comprising a front side and a rear side opposite the front side; 
 an outer frame lip extending outwardly from the rear side of at least one of the four borders; 
 an inner frame lip extending outwardly from the rear side of at least one of the four borders, the inner frame lip comprising a plurality of equally sized notches adjacent each other within the inner frame lip, each notch sized to fit a pin of a removable element within the notch; and 
 at least one removable element removably coupled to one of the four borders, the removable element comprising:
 an L-shaped element comprising a base member coupled to a body member to form an outer surface that covers a portion of the front side of the one of the four borders and an inner surface on the L-shaped member; 
 a channel wall coupled to the base member on an end of the base member opposite the body member to form a channel that houses the outer frame lip of the one of the four borders between the channel wall and the base member, the channel proximate the inside surface of the L-shaped member; and 
 a pin element coupled to the inside surface of the body member and located within one of the plurality of notches. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The license plate frame of  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame lip extending outwardly from the at least one of the four borders comprises an inner frame lip extending outwardly from at least two opposing borders of the four borders, and wherein the outer frame lip extending outwardly from the at least one of four borders comprises an outer frame lip extending outwardly from at least two opposing borders of the four borders. 
     
     
       3. The license plate frame of  claim 2 , wherein the inner frame lip extending outwardly from at least two opposing borders of the four borders comprises an inner frame lip extending outwardly from each of the four borders, and wherein the outer frame lip extending outwardly from at least two opposing border of the four borders comprises an outer frame lip extending outwardly from each of the four borders. 
     
     
       4. The license plate frame of  claim 3 , wherein the inner frame lip and the outer frame lip extend outward substantially perpendicular from the rear side of the borders. 
     
     
       5. The license plate frame of  claim 4 , wherein the inner frame lip extends from the four borders at an inner border of the four borders and the outer frame lip extends from the four borders at an outer border of the four borders. 
     
     
       6. The license plate frame of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of notches comprise a plurality of rounded U-shaped notches. 
     
     
       7. The license plate frame of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of notches comprise a plurality of V-shaped notches. 
     
     
       8. The removable element of  claim 5 , wherein the pin element is coupled to an inner surface of a head member coupled to the inner surface of the body member, wherein the head member is substantially parallel to the base member and the pin element is substantially parallel to the body member. 
     
     
       9. The removable element of  claim 8 , wherein the body member extends beyond at least one of the base member and the head member. 
     
     
       10. The removable element of  claim 9 , further comprising an ornamental element coupled to the outer surface of the body member. 
     
     
       11. A license plate frame, comprising:
 a top border member comprising a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, and two screw mounts; 
 a bottom border member comprising a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, and two screw mounts; 
 an outer frame lip extending outwardly from the rear side of each of the top and bottom border members; 
 an inner frame lip extending outwardly from the rear side of each of the top and bottom border members, the inner frame lip comprising a plurality of equally sized notches adjacent each other within the inner frame lip, each notch sized to fit a pin of a removable element within the notch; and 
 at least one removable element removably coupled one of the top and bottom border members, the removable element comprising a pin protruding from a head member and engaged with one of the plurality of notches, a body member coupled to the head member, and a base member coupled to the body member, the base member comprising a channel slidably engaged with the outer frame lip. 
 
     
     
       12. The license plate frame of  claim 11 , further comprising two side border members coupled to the top and bottom border members between the top and bottom border members, each side border member comprising an outer frame lip extending outwardly from the rear side of each of the top and bottom border members and an inner frame lip extending outwardly from the rear side of each of the top and bottom border members, the inner frame lip of each side border member comprising a plurality of equally sized notches adjacent each other within the inner frame lip, each notch sized to fit a pin of a removable element within the notch. 
     
     
       13. The license plate frame of  claim 12 , further comprising an ornamental element coupled to an outer surface of the body member.